When Hockey Canada announces the roster today for the world junior team's selection camp later this month in Calgary, the expectation is it will have a strong Ontario Hockey League flavour.

Virtual locks to be named to the 36-player roster (20 forwards, 12 defencemen and four goalies) are goalie Steve Mason (London Knights), defencemen Josh Godfrey (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) and Drew Doughty (Guelph Storm), and forwards John Tavares (Oshawa Generals), Stefan Legein (Niagara IceDogs) and Cory Emmerton (Kingston Frontenacs), all of whom were on Canada's roster for the Super Series against Russia this past summer.

The selection camp is scheduled for Dec. 10-14 in Calgary, with the 22-player roster named on the final day.

Canada opens the 2008 world junior against the host Czech Republic on Boxing Day. Also in Group A with Canada are Sweden, Slovakia and Denmark. Included in Pool B are Russia, the United States, Finland, Switzerland and Kazakhstan.

With six eligible forwards playing in the NHL -- Sam Gagner, Jordan Staal, Jonathan Toews, James Sheppard, Milan Lucic and David Perron -- more spots up front will be open.

Among those who have a strong shot to get invitations are Steven Stamkos (Sarnia Sting), who is being touted as the first pick overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft, Brett MacLean (Oshawa), Nick Spaling and Matt Halischuk (Kitchener Rangers), Logan Couture (Ottawa 67's), Dustin Jeffrey (Sault Ste. Marie) and Shawn Matthias and P.K. Subban (Belleville Bulls).